Recently, while meditating, Elephant appeared to me and raised its truck in a show of triumphant joy after I felt an intense wave of grief move through me. It was a grief I couldn’t name, but it inspired me to create this animal art to honor the experience.

After sharing a photo of it here in its beginning stage, a follower, Diane, reached out to me and said she would like to purchase if it hadn’t yet sold. This was a first for me and I found extra joy in completing it knowing Elephant had a home to travel to once it was complete (thank you, Diane!).

While in the midst of completing this piece, I’d learn from a dear friend that her husband unexpectedly passed away from an apparent heart attack. I had to read the text from her twice because I couldn’t believe this is what she was saying.

My heart just aches for her and this tremendous loss. Her whole life just changed in an instant. And as is normal, I couldn’t help but think about my own life and my life with my husband, John. When things like this happen it really hits home and brings up many emotions. I find myself once again reflecting on a deeper level of what is truly important.

While I’ve been listening to my friend as we talk via Zoom, I’ve been witness to something quite extraordinary. While deeply and painfully sad and my heart cries for her in the depths of her sorrow, there have also been these exquisitely beautiful moments that she has shared with me.

And it has reminded me of Elephant and how they are known for their capacity to hold such deep empathy and openly grieve as they honor their loved ones. And their amazing memory to remember those they loved.

All those memories that come to the surface in the depths of grief that bring comfort and peace to the heart. And a new way that is presented of how one can be in relationship to the one they loved, just in a different way, while also grieving the loss of the physical presence of their beloved partner.

Witnessing my friend go through the grieving process I see moments of joy and humor too and how as humans, just like Elephant, have this extraordinary capacity to hold all these emotions at the same time. And how love truly never dies. The memories a gift and if we can open ourselves to a new way of being in relationship, we can experience an expansion of something quite profound.

This has all definitely left quite the imprint on my heart as I pack up Elephant and it travels to its new home, while I continue to navigate and deepen into the heart of what really matters in life.

XO

Barb

A new mixed media collage art I’ve just begun working on inspired by Elephant.

It was during a recent morning meditation that I felt this intense grief come over me. While I can’t give a specific reason to what the grief was related to, I did feel as if it was from the collective.  As a sensitive person I’ve realized over the years how I feel so much of the world around me. Something I’ve had to consciously continue to work on and not absorb into my being, especially when it is of the collective that I’m feeling.

Something I now know from the inner work I’ve done, and continue to do, the importance of feeling difficult emotions and allowing them to pass through. Recently I heard that emotions which feel challenging only stay with us for ninety seconds. Though we can feel like they will last forever. And the reality is that if we push them down and don’t acknowledge them, they will resurface until we really feel them.

Thinking back on that meditation I realized that the intense grief wasn’t with me for that long as I allowed myself to feel it and tears ran down my face.

And then I noticed something special and that there were many animals with me as they began cheering me on. One of which was an Elephant who swung its trunk into the air in a joyous celebration and that I’d walked through the grief.

Mentioning this to a group I attend monthly the facilitator shared that elephants hold the memories of the land. Doing some research I found this from AnimalWised.com:

Elephants, known for their emotional depth, capacity for empathy and grief, demonstrate mourning rituals that reflect their complex memory and understanding of loss. They approach the deceased with gentleness, using their trunks to touch and explore the body. This suggests a deep emotional connection and recognition of the individual.

Herd members may stand quietly beside the deceased for extended periods, paying their respects. This silent vigil displays their emotional memory and understanding of loss. Elephant mourning rituals are intrinsically tied to their memory, as they recognize not only the deceased but also the circumstances surrounding the loss. Elephants can recognize specific individuals even after a long separation, and their memory of the deceased plays a crucial role in their mourning behavior.

The memory of the herd as a collective is evident in these mourning rituals, as herd members gather around the deceased individual. This indicates a shared understanding of loss and a collective expression of grief.

During this challenging time on our planet I see the Elephant as encouraging us to grieve those things we still have not. To do the inner cleansing in order to bring in a new world with more love, joy, and peace. So then we can all raise our vibration in celebration!

XO

Barb